Leading Betfred Gold Cup fancy Lord Atterbury will not run at Sandown on Saturday.

The Martin Pipe-trained eight-year-old ran the race of his life when third to Amberleigh House in the Martell Cognac Grand National and would have been racing off an attractive mark of 130 at the weekend.

But a statement from the champion trainer (pictured left) said: "After extensive tests we have decided not to run Lord Atterbury in the Betfred.

"Even though he is well in and will go up 5lb in future, the horses well-being always comes first and he is not quite ready for Saturday's Betfred Gold Cup."

Unbeaten novice chaser Lord Sam has joined the ever-growing ranks of British raiders booked for next week's Punchestown Festival.

The Victor Dartnall-trained eight-year-old was withdrawn from the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at last month's Cheltenham Festival on the day of the race after being found to be running a slight temperature.

But he is set to contest the Grade Three Ellier Developments Novice Chase, the second race of the Irish National Hunt Festival, on Tuesday.

"All being well he will head to Punchestown for the novice chase on Tuesday and I am hoping Jim Culloty will ride," Dartnall said.

"I'm just waiting for a final blood result."

Criquette Head-Maarek is hoping for a big run from Vodafone Derby second-favourite American Post when he continues his build-up to the premier Classic at Longchamp on Sunday.

The Chantilly trainer was at Epsom yesterday, where she outlined plans for her dual Group One winner ahead of the blue riband, in which the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt will be partnered by Richard Hughes.

"American Post has given a bit of trouble at the stalls, but when he ran at Doncaster (in the Racing Post Trophy) we had a carrot at the ready which worked and we'll certainly keep that trick up our sleeves when he runs next in the Prix de Fontainebleau, which is his trial for the French 2000 Guineas," she said.

"As long as everything goes right, he will then come back here for the Derby."

Aidan O'Brien's One Cool Cat heads the 27 horses left in the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas at the forfeit stage for the Newmarket Classic.

The winter favourite for the one-mile showpiece is one of five possibles for the Ballydoyle trainer as he seeks his third victory on the Rowley Mile.

Dermot Weld's Grey Swallow, winner of his trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, stands his ground, as does the Barry Hills-trained Haafhd.

The latter was tremendously impressive when running away with the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket last week.

Salford City was another to make his mark in a trial last week as he stormed home in the Lane's End Greenham Stakes, while Godolphin are represented by the exciting Snow Ridge, who has been burning up the desert during his time in Dubai and whose odds for the Guineas tumbled after he delighted connections in a piece of work last week.

Salisbury's Flat meeting scheduled for this evening has been abandoned.

Heavy rain has hit the track over the last day or so and officials were left with little option after inspecting the course early this morning.

"There are a number of areas that are still very wet and rather unstable," said clerk of the course Jeremy Martin.

"In the interests of safety we have taken the decision to abandon.

"It just hasn't coped with the two-and-a-half inches we have had in the last 72 hours.

"If we were racing on Friday night there wouldn't be a problem, but there is also the risk of further showers today."